Asides

Who wants the hassle and inconvenient? Of course, no one. Even if I came from PUP, which also means Pila Upo Pila (that was before SIS was created) and though my alma mater helps me develop and lengthens my patience, I still don’t want the hassle and long lines. We are in the generation of technology and instant and phase where every minute counts and so every penny must be spent wisely.

One of the requirements in applying for a Marriage License is Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) and NSO authenticated Birth Certificate. We actually have various options, that will suit our different lifestyles. As the saying goes, “If there’s a will, there’s a way!”

Since we, my fiancé and I, have both works from Monday to Friday, and our vacation leave credits are easily consumed by my monthly prenatal check-up, we have to be very careful in choosing our options.

Here are the following options :

1.) NSO Main Office – It is located at East Avenue, Quezon City (in front of SSS East Avenue). It is one ride from Boni Avenue, take a bus with route SM Fairview, for doubts some buses have a card in front which says SSS & NSO. They are open from 7:00 am – 4:00pm from Mondays – Fridays. There is a step by step process instruction when you get there. But you will surely get your documents on that day. Since I am pregnant, we decided not to consider this option.

2.) Makati City Hall- It is located in Makati located at JP Rizal St. In front of the New Makati City Hall, Ground floor of old City Hall Bldg. There is also a step by step process that will guide you when you get there. Unlike NSO Main Office, the waiting lines are not that long. But eventually, you will also get your documents on the same day also. We did not also consider this options because we are minimizing our vacation leave credits for other purposes, well merely for my OB-Gyn appointment :)!

3.) PSA Help lines (https://nsohelpline.ph/) – For those text savvy and don’t want to waste their time queuing in line, you can get you NSO documents online or thru phone. You can also call them 24/7 at (02) 737-1111. But, I’m warning you, this is a bit costly. The fee is Php350 per copy. You may pay through Bancnet online, any Metrobank branch, Bancnet ATM or select Bayad Center outlets. Delivery is usually within 2-5 working days upon receipt of your payment.

4.) SM Malls – Getting your documents in SM Business Center is like a piece of cake. You just have to go to the nearest SM Malls in your place. For us, SM Megamall is just a minute away. It is located in the 3r floor level. We went there on October 29, Saturday at 3:00pm, yes they catered during weekends but I’m not sure if they also catered during Sundays and Holidays, though. Oh, there is a cut off time. There were no long queuing lines. We paid Php 140.00 for the Birth Certificate and Php 195.00 for the Cenomar. And an additional Php 20.00 each for the processing fee. One thing to remember when getting your documents in SM Business Center is that it is suited for you if you’re in a hurry. Processing days takes 5 – 10 days for the Cenomar. But for us, it just took a week for us to get the Cenomar and the Birth Certificate. Upon claiming, you have to bring the claim stub with you and one valid ID. Just in case you will not be able to claim your documents, you can send your representative together with your Authorization Letter, your ID and her/his ID as well.

Don’t forget, you must have all the details (such as Mothers Maiden Name, Fathers Middle Initial, Birth Place) before choosing any of the options listed above.

I hope this helps you one way or another. If you have suggestions or corrections, please feel free to leave a comment 🙂 Thanks for dropping by :*

I used to have a timeline for my dreams and for myself. By the age of 18, I should graduate from college, by 25 I should have my own family, get married and have kids. Yet, it’s God who decides for us.

Two years ago, I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a condition in which a woman’s levels of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are out of balance. This leads to the growth of ovarian cysts (benign masses on the ovaries). PCOS can cause problems with a women’s menstrual cycle, cardiac function, appearance, and worst – fertility. (For more information, please wait for my blog about PCOS or just research it in Google.)

When I first discovered it, I just shrug off my shoulder then let it pass to the other side of my ear. It was by 2015 that I took it seriously. When again my menstruation becomes less frequent, aside from being irregular and other symptoms such as weight gain, anxiety, mood swings become more frequent.

Aside from that, I notice that more and more of my batch mates are becoming a mother. Pressured eh? I was afraid that I will not be able to bear a child if I still ignore it. Also, we were really planning to have a child soon, though we were just in our mid-twenties.

I started seeing my second OB Dr. Esther Ongkeko, a resident OB-Gyn at Victor R. Potenciano Medical Center (also known as Polymedic General Hospital, Inc.). She was really good and kind and calm. By the symptoms I told her, she easily identified it as PCOS. And joke that it was her specialty. She made me undergo a number of laboratories which confirms my case. Then she let me choose between two options, either to take a pill or the natural way (which requires a lot of patient and time management-it is some kind of a cream, forgot the name, though) to make my menstruation regular or even close to it. She also told me that PCOS is not curable but preventable.

I started taking Diane pills ( yes, I chose the less hassle option) by September 2015. As far as I remember, it cost Php 648.00 in Mercury Drug Stores. Then eventually, my menstruation visits become monthly. Fortunately, I didn’t feel any negative side effects from taking one. But I stop taking it when January 2017 enters. I decided to try what others said about stopping the pills and it might get you pregnant.

For months, my menstruation became close to regular, meaning I had my monthly visits but the dates were not accurate. By May 2017, it stopped until June. I then schedule my appointment with Dr. Ongkeko for my check up by June 22. Had undergone pap smear, Pregnancy Test, Ultrasound, and BhCG test – a pregnancy test thru blood. All my test turned out to be negative. I was expecting it as well since I am not feeling anything inside my tummy or even the early symptoms of pregnancy such a vomiting.

Then Dr. Ongkeko schedules an appointment after a month, that will be on July 13. I still haven’t had my monthly visit by then. The night before my appointment with her, I already took my Pregnancy Test. I was thinking, since I haven’t had my mens since my last visit to her, she would then told me to do the PT in her office and it was costly for me hahaha :). And the test was Positive ?! I can’t decide because it was just a faint pink line then just shrugs off my shoulder.

By morning, at the Hospital, before proceeding to Dr. Ongkeko’s office, I took another test, I don’t know, my instinct was urging me to do so. And boom, it was very clear – two red lines. It’s POSITIVE! I reallyyyy can’t believe.

When my time comes, I show my PT results to Dr. Ongkeko and ask for confirmation if it was really positive. I had my emotions mixed. Then she told me that ” Yes! It’s positive! Congrats, you can’t deny it! ♥”. She prescribed me with prenatal vitamins for the baby and for me.

When I came out of the Hospital, I was like floating on cloud nine. I couldn’t explain how I feel. I’m so happy and excited and anxious and worried and mesmerized. I really can’t believe. And above all, I am so thankful to God that in spite and despite all my mistakes, I am still too bless!

I didn’t tell Maue right away, I want it to be personal. By evening, when he comes home, I show him an ampao and ask me what was that. I told him to open it. When he realized what he saw, he hugged me so tight and I could feel tears were flowing in his face. He was speechless 🙂 I was too. Now, our grand adventure is about to begin!

I always believe that if it’s God’s will, it will come true. You just have to trust him with all your hearts and surrender. No one’s perfect, we are just human and making mistakes is one of our nature. But our Merciful God never forgets to forgive us and still look after us after everything we’ve done. All we just have to do is pray and trust HIM!